Recording device



June 7, 1932. H. SENGEBUSCH 1,362,200

RECORDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 50, 1 29 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R &

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Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANS SENGEBUSCH, 'UFVILLA PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGINOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

LAEORATOBIES, INCL, OF CHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, LA- CORPORA- RECORDING DEVICE :Appiicati'on filed December 30, 1929. Serial No. 417,280.

"tion of a watchman to each of a plurality of stations, and the order in which those stations were visited, and to indicate the failure of the watchman to visit any one of the plurality of stations.

It has been the practice, heretofore, in wa'tclrmens service systems, to employ a multi-station recording device of the type which would puncture the record sheet to record the information thereon. That method of recording necessitates the use of a record sheet which hasbeen so ruled with linesand so-designated with numbers that a hole prick-punched in the record sheet must be located according to the 'ruledlines and numbers before the desired information can be obtained.

Such a recording device has the further disadvantage that it producesa record in such form that renders reading of a preserved record verydiliicult and sometimes next to impossible, because, after a record has been stored for some length of time, tile necessary 1 method of storing record sheets cause the material of the record-sheet which was pushed away in theprocess of prick-punching, to fill up the prick-punched hole. Much inconvenience has been caused by this manner of recording.

I have assumed, therefore, as the principal object of my invention, the provision of a multi-station recording device which prints the necessary information in permanent recordform and which requires no specially printed record sheet in order that the recordings thereon may be deciphered. By the provision-of such a recording device, I overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

Other objects and various features, not specifically mentioned at this time, will be apparent from the description of the opera tion and the construction of .a preferred form of the product of my invention when .the deaccompanying sheets of drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, which by plan views and sectional views show such details .of construction as will enable a complete understanding of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front of my multi-station recording device with the cover removed Fig. 2 is a plan view of the right end of the device with respect to its position in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the left end of the device with respect to its position in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1 as seen-by looking from the left and towards the right;

Fig. 5 is a view showing in detail the hourprint trip mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the ribbon feed reversing mechanism; and

Fig. 7 isan exploded View of minute printlever trip assembly.

The construction of my multi-station rccording device, or watchmans clock, will now be described in detail.

The oblong mounting base 1 is of cast metal and of the form best shown by the cross section thereof in Fig. 4. Cast integral with this base are four mounting posts 6, arranged two at either end to support the left endplate 2 and the right endplate 8. The posts 6 have vertical holes therein and the end plates have cooperating threaded holes so that the plates may be secured in vertical position upon the .posts by .means of screws inserted from the underside of base 1 and screwed into the threaded holes in the end plates. The end plates have the shit} e and design shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A vertical mounting plate 4, extending between the two end plates 2 and 3, is secured .to the end plates by means of screws. Plate 4 has ahorizontal row of holes 7 near its lower edge and extending substantially the entire length of the plate. The purpose of these holes will be describedsubsequently.

,Ainounting plate 5 is secured to mounting plate .ilnear thelower edge thereof by means of screws 8., Fig. 4i, insuch position that the plane surface of the plate 5 is perpendicular to that of plate 4. Plate 5 has a number of through one complete revolution.

Vertical slots in the front edge thereof which are of a number corresponding to the number of holes 7 in the row in the plate 4, and are so located that each slot cooperates with one hole 7 in the plate 4. The function of these slots will be described subsequently in connection with the explanation of the function of the holes 7 A shaft 9 carrying a number of type wheels 10 rigidly secured thereto, and spaced in proper relation by spacers 11, is journaled near its ends in the end plates 2 and 3 in the relative location shown in Figs. 2 and Each of the type wheels 10 has the numbers to 60 arranged on the periphery thereof. Each type wheel is so positioned upon the shaft 9 that it is in relative position with one hole 7 in the plate 4 and one slot in the plate 5.

Secured on the shaft 9 at its right-hand end and to the right of the end plate 3, is a (SO-tooth ratchet wheel 12. In Fig. 2 the ratchet wheel 12 is in front of the end plate 3. Eccentrically mounted on the end of shaf 14 by means of screw 15 is a pawl 13 which cooperates with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 12 to rotate the wheel and consequently the shaft 9 in a counter-clockwise direction. The extent of movement of the pawl 13 when shaft 14 is rotated is such that a complete stroke of pawl 13 rotates the wheel 12 through an angle corresponding to the space of one tooth. Thus it takes sixty operations of the pawl 13 to rotate the wheel 12 and shaft 9 It can readily be seen, therefore, that if the pawl 13 is operated once each minute that it will take an hour to completely revolve the wheel 12 and the shaft 9, and that each operation of the pawl 13 and consequent rotation of the shaft 9 places the next of the series of numbers on the periphery of the type wheels in the position formerly occupied by the preceding numbers. That position occupied by 1 the preceding numbers and into which the 13 in engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 12.

A small electric motor 17 the description of which to follow is best understood from Fig. 4, by means of reduction gearing enclosed in gear-housing 18, and by means of shaft 19,

and bevel gears 20 and 21,eonstitutethe means by which the shaft 14 is rotated. Since the motor 17 runs at a comparatively high rate of speed and since it is necessary that shaft \i 14 be rotated at a low rate of speed, as

will be understood as the description progresses, the reduction gearing enclosed in the housing 18 has been provided to translate a slow rate of revolution to the shaft 14.

A bracket 22 secured at its ends by means of screws to the end plates 2 and 3 serves as a support to the motor 17 which is secured thereto by means of the encircling band 23.

A magnet 24 having an armature 25 pivoted at 26 is secured to the rear side, or edge, of end plate 3. Armature 25 has a spring opera-ting member 27, which, when armature 25 is attracted by the energization of the magnet 24, causes the springs 35 to engage to complete the circuit of the motor 17 Rigidly, but adjustably, secured to the armature 25, is a member 28 which has its free end bent downward to form the projecting piece 29. WVhen armature 25 is in its retracted position, the projecting piece 29 is in a position in back of the spring member 33.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 14, so as to rotate therewith, is a cam 16 which has a segment removed therefrom to form the shoulder 16. A weighted member 32, pivotally mounted on the end plate 3 by means of the pin 30, rides upon the periphery of the cam 16. The pin 30 which is journaled in the end plate 3, carries at its end opposite that to which the weighted member 32 is secured, an arm 31 which is of the general shape shown in Fig. 2.

When armature 25 is moved to its attracted position by the energization of the magnet 24, the end 29 of the member 28 is lifted above the end of spring 33, so that spring 33 may assume its position against the back-stop 34.

hen magnet 24 deenergizes, armature 25 attempts to move to its retracted position because of the pressure of springs 35 upon the arm 27. However, when the spring 33 is against the stop 34, the lower edge of the projecting end 29 of member 28 abuts the upper edge of spring 33, thereby preventing the complete movement of armature 25 to its retracted position. The slight movement of the armature beforethe projecting piece 29 abuts the spring 33 is not sufficient to allow the springs 35 to separate. Thus, the circuit of motor 17 is maintained closed through a. mechanical locking device for the relay 24.

The rotation of the motor 17 rotates the shaft 14 and consequently the cam 16 in a COLlIltQlClOC'kWlSQ, direction. As the weighted member 32 rides off of the periphery of cam 16 terminating at the shoulder 16, it will drop into the segment out from the cam with sufficient force to cause the member 31. to knock the spring 33 to the right and out of engagement. with the projecting piece 29, thereby allowing the armature 25 to return to its retracted position and the projecting piece 29 to assume its position back of spring 33. When armature 25 retracts it allows the springs 35 to separate to open the circuit of slightly over dead center.

in which position the projecting piece 29 will have assumed its location above the spring 33,-as has been explained, ready to abut the uppere-nd ofzthe spring 33 when the impulse terminates. After the shaft 14 and the cam 16 has made a complete revolution, the weighted member 32 will act, has been explained, to open themotor circuit and stop the motor. The relative positions of the parts just described, at the time when the mo tor circuit is opened and the motor comes to rest, are as shownin Fig. 2.

WVith the .parts in those positions, it will be on the shaft 14, is at the top of its stroke or Therefore, when the-shaft 14 commences to rotate the pawl 13 is pulled downward to engage the next tooth,

' therein which are spaced so that one aperture is located directly beneath each type wheel =on the shaft '9. Secured to the upper edge of the plate 4-is a second horizontal plate 37 also having a plurality of apertures therein, and

extending over :t-heopposite side of the plate 4. The, apertures in the plate 37 are in vertical alignment with the apertures of plate The 'part of plate 36 which overhangs the front of plate 4 has a plurality of slots out in its front edge similar to those slots in the horizontal plate-5, corresponding in nunr her and location to the slots in plate 5.

. A T-shaped printing lever 38 fits in one aperture 'of each of the plates 37 and '36, being free to move laterally in the apertures. The end 39 of the cross part of the printing lever 33 is formed round to serve as a pivot for the lever when the end 3 9 rests upon the surface of the plate 37. The other end 40 of the cross art is tri er shaoed so that when it is released from its normal position, as will be explained, it presents the least possible rubbing surface, in order that the least possible effort is necessary for its operation. The bottom of the vertical part of the lever 33 is notched for a purpose which will be described subsequently. Aflixed to the top of the printingllever is a printing .mallet 41 of such .a size as to cover only the vnumeralton a type wheel 10, which is in the printing position.

-Referring :to Fig. 7 particularly, before proceeding with the description of the operation of the printing lever, a descri-ptionof the lever trip arrangement will now be given in order that a more thorough understanding" may be had of the operation of the printing lever.

As previously stated, plate 4:has a horizontal row of holes 7, while the plates 5 and 37 have aseries of slots in their front edges, and

that one hole 7 and one of the slots in each of the plates are in alignment. The purpose of thisarrangement can now be understood.

The magnet 44 has a core with pole-pieces 4611116148 which have projecting pieces 47* and 49,respectively. The pole-piece 48 is cut to have steps as shown. The magnet 44 is provided with an armature 43 having its upper end formed as a trigger. The lower end of the armature is provided with an aperture large enough to loosely lit over the middle step of the pole-piece 48 but not large enough to fit over the entire height of-rthe pole-piece. About midway between the 1e10 tremities of armature 43, :a leaf spring is se-" cured thereto. \Vhen the armature is in place, that is, when it has been fitted over the middle step ofthe pole piece 48, the spring45 abuts the end of pole-piece 46 to force the upper end of armature 43 away from the pole-piece. The width of the middle step of the pole-piece 48 is a trifle more than the thickness of the armature 43.

The magnet 44 with the armature 43 in position is now placed so that the small stepped 1 portion of the pole-piece 48 is inserted into the hole 7 in plate 4. In this position, the projecting piece 49 is in the slot in plate 5 and the armature 43, because of the double bend in its length, fits into the slot in the plate 37, just below the trigger portion of the armature. The shoulder 51 of projecting piece 49 rests upon the upper surface of plate 5. The projecting piece 47 fits into-an aperture in the plate number 50, Fig. 4. A screw having-an ordinary size head is screwed into the hole in the front edge of plate 5 to hold the magnet 44 in place.

Because the middle step of pole-piece 48 is slightly wider than armature 44 is thick, the armature will not be pressed tightly against the plate 4 when the magnet 44 is secured in position, thus affording the armature a slight movement. The tension in spring 45 holds. the armature 43 in the slot in plate 37 \Vhen magnet 44 is energized, the armature 43 is attracted against the pole-piece 46 to close the magnetic circuit, and when magnet 44 deenergizes the spring tension of spring 45 forces the armature 43 away from the polepiece 46. The slot in plate 37 is of such a length that armature 43 is confined therein during its entire movement.

When the printing lever 38 is in its normal position, the end 4O rests upon the trigger portion of armature 43, while the end 39 is touching the upper surface of the plate 37. In this position the lower end of the printing lever 38 abuts the side of vertical plate 4. When armature 43 is moved to its at tracted position, upon the energization of the magnet 44, it frees the end 40 of the lever. When thus freed, the lever 38, because of its weight, rotates upon its rounded end 39 in a clockwise direction until the end 40 engages the plate 37. This rotation swings the lower end of the lever 38 away from the plate 4. When armature 43 retracts it will not engage the end 40 of the lever but will assume a position over the end of the trigger portion.

It is now necessary to lift the printing lever 38 to force the printing mallet 41 against the type to perform the printing operation. lVhen the lever 38 is lifted, the end 40 passes the trigger end of the armature 43, so that upon its downward movement it will engage the trigger end. Therefore, when the end 40 engages the trigger portion of armature 43 upon the downward movement, it can no longer move downward. The lever 38 then, because of its weight, pivots about the end 40 in a counter-clockwise direction until the lever assumes the position in which it is shown in F ig. 4.

In a multi-station recording device which is arranged for sixty stations, for example, there will be sixty type wheels 10, sixty of the print levers 38, and sixty of the magnets 44. Each print lever 38 will be positioned directly below one of the type wheels 10.

A rod 52, Fig. 4, extends between the end plates 2 and 3 and is secured at its extremities to those plates. A lifting member 53 which extends substantially the entire distance between the end plates 2 and 3 is pivotally mounted at one of its edges on the rod 52. A connecting rod 55, which is eccentrically mounted on the end of shaft 14 by means of screw 56, is pivotally fastened at its other extremity to an upwardly extending portion 54 of the lifting member 53. Secured to-the lower surface of the lifting member 53are a number of spring members 57, each of which has an upwardly extending end. 58. The number of spring members 57 corresponds to the number of printing levers 38, there being one spring member 57 associated with each lever.

' When shaft 14 makes one complete revolution, as has been explained, the eccentric connecting-rod 55 lifts the free end of lifting member 53 on the first half of the rotation of shaft 14, and then moves the free end of the lifting member 53 downward upon the second half of that rotation, until the member 53 assumes the position in which it is shown in the drawings.

lVhen the printing lever 38 is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, upwardly extending portion 58 of spring 57 onits up;

ward movement with member 53 does not engage the printing lever 38, nor does it on its downward movement. However, when the lower end of the printing lever 38 is moved away from the plate 4, as has been explained, the notch 42 in the lower end of lever 38 assumes a position directly above the end 58 of spring 57. Now when lifting member 53 is moved upward the end 58 of s ring 57 engages the printing lever 38 in t e notch 42 and causes the printing lever 38 to be lifted along with the member 53. In this manner, the printing mallet 41 performs the printing operation.

Printing lever 38 follows the downward movement of lifting member 53 until the end 40 of the lever engages the trigger portion of armature 43 to IIIOWE the lower end of the lever out of the position in which it would be engaged by spring end 58 upon the next lifting movement of member 53. Thus, it can be seen, that, in order to perform another printing operation with lever 38, it will be necessary to energize the associated magnet 44 to release the printing lever into the pick-up position.

In order that the printin lever 38 can print a record upon a record s leet, it is necessary that the record sheet pass between the mallet 41 and the type wheels 10, and that i the inked tape pass between the record sheet and the type wheels 10 directly over the mallet 41. For this purpose, guide pulleys 59 and 60, suitably mounted in apertures in the end plates 3 and 2, respectively, are provided so that when the ink tape 61 is passed over the two pulleys it will be in the desired position, directly below the type wheel 10. Storage reels 62 and 63, rotatably mounted on the end plates 3 and 2, respectively, are provided for storing the inked tape 61. The inked tape 61, which at present is stored upon reel 63, is led from that reel over the idler pulleys 64 and 65 mounted in the relative positions on end plate 2 as shown in Fig. 3, is then led over idler pulley 60, through the recorder under the type wheels 10, over the idler pulley 59, over idler pulleys 66 and 67, which are mounted upon the end plate 3, Fig. 2, and which correspond to idler pulleys 65 and 64, respectively, and then onto empty reel 62. It can be seen, therefore, that if reel 62 is rotated so as to wind some of the ink tape thereon, the tape will be pulled off of reel 63.

Associated with reel 62 is a ratchet wheel 68, Fig. 2, which is so connected to the reel 62, that when the ratchet wheel is rotated, it will rotate the reel therewith.

Associated with the reel 63 in a. similar manner is a ratchet wheel 70, Fig. 3. Pivotally mounted to the lifting member 53 and at the extremities thereof are the pawls 69, Fig. 2, and 71, Fig. 3, which are so positioned that the pawl 69 engages the teeth of I I 'to hold the pawl in engagement with the teeth of th associated ratchet whee lVhen each of the pawls acts upon its associated ratchet wheel, it turns the associated tape reel in a direction which will wind tape there- Since the winding of tape on one reel unwinds it from the other reel, it can readily be seen that when the pawl 69, for example, is operating upon the ratchet wheel 68. that it will be necessary to hold the pawl 71 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 70, and vice versa.

Since the pawls 69 and 71 are pivotally mounted on the liftin g member -3 it follows that when that member i s lifted, as has been explained, the pawls will be lifted and the one of the pawls which is in engagement lth its associated ratchet wheel will be moved to engage another tooth, and when the member hil'is moved do-w ward the pawls necessarily movedownward therewith, and that pawl '2 been performed by the upward motion of the reciprocating member 53.

In order that the direction of the teed of the ribbon may be reversed when all of it has been unwound from one of the reels, a ribbon teed control and reversing mechanism has been provided. This mechanism will be best understood from a. description of Fig. 6.

1%; plate 72, Fig. i, is secured at its extremities to the underside of the end plates 2 and 3. Upon this plate. are pivotaliy DIOUIltCx' two bars 73 and 7% by means of pins and 76, respectively. Bar 73 is farther above the siu'tace ot-plate 72 than is bar 74, so that bar 7-1 at its ends may rotate under the bar 73. The ends 79 and of bar 73 extend through apertures in the end plates 3 and 2, respectively, and the extent of rotation of bar 7 3 about its pivot 7 5 is limited to the length of these apertures. When the bar 7 3 is rotated in a clbckwise direction about its pivot the end 80 engages the pawl 71 to hold it out of enga ement with. the teeth of the ratchet wheeiim, and the end 79 is moved away from pawl 69 to allow that pawl to engage the teeth of ratchetwheel 68. hen the bar 73 rotated in the opposite direction about its pivot 75 the end 79 engages the pawl 69 and moves it out of engagement witl the teeth ratchet wheel 68, and moves the end 80 out o't engagement with pawl 71 to allow that pawl to enga e the teeth of ratchet wheel 70-. The apertures in the end plates through the ends 7 9' and 80 protrude need only be length suiiicient to allow enough rotation to bar 73 to perform the functions just described. I

The bar 7 i has mounted one on either side of its pivot 7 6 two posts 77 and 78, which are of such a height that when the bar 74 is rotated one or the other of the posts engages the bar 73 In order to provide a quick flipping action to the bar 74 and consequently to the bar 73, springs 8% and are provided and are so arranged that when the bar 74 passes'i-ts center position the springs cause the bar to be quickly flipped the remainder of the distance. Thus, if the bar 74- were to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from its position in Fig. 6, the springs 84; and 85 would flip the bar 74, when it is past its center position, and the post 77 woud hit and rotate the bar 73 in a similar direction about its pivot. During the rotation of bar 74 there is a time when neither of the posts 77 and 78' are engaging the bar 7 3. During this time bar 73'- is held in position by friction.

The ends 82 and 83 of the bar 74 are slotted horizontally to provide a space through which the inked tape 61 may pass. The tape near each of its ends is provided with a rivet, such as 81, which cannot pass through the slot in the end of the bar 74. As the ratchet and pawl (38 and 6'9 cause tape to be wound upon the spool 62, the rivet 81 is moved until it engages the end 82 of the bar 745. Since the rivet 81 cannot pass through the slot in the end 82', continued movement of the tape 61 rotates the bar 7 4 about its pivot, and when the bar passes its center position it is flipped the remainder of the way to cause the quick rotation of the bar 73'. Thus, the pawl 69 is moved out oi engagement with its ratchet wheel, and the pawl 71 is allowed to engage its ratchet wheel, this operation of the pa-wls reversing the direction of the winding operation of the ribbon. This direction of the winding of the inked tape will continueuntil the rivet 81 on the other end of the tape operates the bar 74 in a clockwise direction by engaging the end 83 of that bar.

The operation of bar 73 has a further utility, and that is to operate the holdingpawls 69 and 71, associated respectively with ratchet wheels 68 and 70 to prevent backward rotation of those wheels when acted upon by one of pawls 69 and 71. WVhen the end 7 9 of bar 7 moves the pawl 69 out 0t engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 68, it also moves the holding pawl 69" out of engagement therewith. Likewise, when the end 80 of bar 73 moves pawl 71 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 70, it also moves holding pawl 71 out of engagement therewith.

The upper-rear end of each end plate 2 and 3 is formed into a U-shaped bracket 86 for receiving and holding the aXleof the spool 89 upon which the blank recording paper is stored. The screws 87 serve to hold the axle 90 in the U-shaped brackets. The record sheet from the spool 89 is led under the rubber roller 88, being held against the under surface of that roller by means of a large, flat spring -thence between. the downward projecting portion 94 of plate and the tearing member 95. The shaft of the rubber roller 88 is journaled at its ends in the end plates 2 and 3,

H: as is also the shaft of roller 91.

By means of gear 96 rigidly secured to the shaft 9, gear 101 rigidly secured to the shaft of roller 91, and the gear train comprising gears 97, 98, 99, and 100, the roller 91 is rotated when the shaft 9 is rotated. Gears 96 to 99, inclusive, are shown in Fig. 4, while gears 100 and 101 are shown in Fig. 2, since those shown in F ig. 4 are mounted inside the end plate 3 and those shown in Fig. 2 are mounted outside of the end plate 3. Gears 97, 98, 99, and 100 are journaled in the end plate, gears 99 and 100 being mounted upon the same axis which extends through the end plate so that a gear may be mounted on either end thereof.

The recording paper has holes perforated along its edges. The holes are evenly spaced and arranged to cooperate with the sprocket teeth 102, arranged at either end of the roller 91, so that when roller 91 is rotated it shall unwind recording paper from the spool 89. Since shaft 9 and consequently gear 96 are rotated in a step-bystep manner, roller 91 is rotated in a like manner. The gear ratio of the gears in the geartrain determines the degree of rotation of roller 91 for each step of shaft 9, and that ratio must be such that each rotation of roller 91 will unwind enough paper from the spool, so that the repeated printing of the same numeral upon the paper will not cause the printings to overlap one another.

The tearing member 95 provides an edge on which the recording paper may be torn after it has been through the recording device. Referring particularly to Fi 1, it will be noted that the member 95 is pivoted at its end in the end plates 2 and 3. Attached to the member 95 by means of screws and at its eX- tremities are the paper holding brackets 103 and 104 which are curved to fit the contour of the roller 91. Apertures in these brackets allow the sprocket teeth 102 to protrude therethrough. These brackets serve to hold the paper tight against the roller over a portion of the circumference of the roller so that a number of the sprocket teeth 102 will serve to draw the paper from the storage spool 89 to prevent tearing of the paper between the perforations as would be likely if the pulling were done by only one or two sprocket teeth.

A tension spring 107 secured by means of screws at its upper end to the edge of end plate 3 bears against an arm 105 of the bracket 103 to hold the bracket against the roller 91. Spring number 108 similarly secured to the end plate 2, bears upon the arm 106 of the bracket 104 to hold the bracket against the surface of the roller 91.

Since the type wheels 10 have numbers from 0 to 60 on their peripheries these types wheels are the minute designating wheels, and the operation of the printing levers 38 causes numerals corresponding to minutes to be designated on the record sheet. In order that the hour of the day might also be recorded on the record sheet a special hour wheel and printing mechanism has been provided. The hour wheel 109 together with the hour indicating wheel 110 are assembled as a rotatable unit on the shaft 9, these two wheels have numerals on their peripheries numbering from 1 a. m. to 12 a. m. inclusive, and from 1 p. 1n. to 12 p. m., inclusive. Those on the wheel 110 being arranged so that they may be read through an opening in the cover of the recording device. The numerals on the hour wheel 109 are, of course, inverted so that they can be used for printing upon the record sheet.

Since there are twenty-four numerals in all upon the periphery of the hour wheel 109, it is necessary that this wheel be revolved through one twenty-fourth of a complete revolution each hour, in order that the hour designating numeral may be in the printing position. The revolution of the shaft 9 is utilized to rotate the hour wheel 109 through the medium of gears 111 and 112, Fig. 3, gear 113, which rotates with and on the same axis as gear 112, and the gear 114 comprising a part of the assembly of the hour wheels. Since the shaft 9 makes one complete revolution each hour, the gear ratio for rotating the hour wheels is such that the wheels 109 and 110 will rotate one twenty-fourth of a complete revolution with each complete revolution of shaft 9.

The hour printing operation is a full mechanical operation and is controlled by the equipment shown in Fig. 5.

The hour print lever 38' having the ends 39 and 40 and the printing mallet 41, is similar in construction and operation to the minute print lever 38 previously described. Since the operation of lever 38 is controlled mechanically, no magnet 44, having an armature 43, has been supplied. A spring member 122 which is secured at its lower extremity to the vertical plate 4, as may be seen in Fig. 1, has its free end formed in the shape of a trigger, similar to that of armature 43, which member with the trigger end serves the same purpose as armature 43; namely, to hold the end 40 of print lever 38 above the surface of the plate 37, so that the lower end of the lever 38' will assume its position against the rear sideof the plate 4 out of position to be picked.

up by oneof the springs 57 on lifting member 53,- until the lever'38 has been allowed to move to the'pick-up position.

Journaledinthe end plate 2 and extending a short distance either side of: the plate 2,.is a shaft 118; A. rod 119-is inserted in a diametric, hole in the shaft 118 and is secured therein by means of set screw 120'. On. the opposite side of the end plate 2 a rod 121, bent as shown in Fig. 5, is inserted iIL another diametric hole in the shaft 118 and secured therein by means of a set screw similar to screw 120. The free end of the rod 121 is formed in the shape of a hook which fits back of the spring member 122. Counter-clockwiserotation of rod 121 causes the spring member 122' to be pulled away from the print lever 38 to free the end 40 to allow the. lever 38 to move to the pick-up position.

The rod 116 which is inserted in a diametric hole in the shaft 9, and secured therein by means of set screw 117,. engages the free end of rod 119 as shaft 9 rotates, to rotate the shaft 118 and consequently the rod 121' to perform the releasing operation by spring member 122. of printing lever 38. After 116 passes over the end of rod 119 the spring member 122 causes the return of rods 119 and 121 and assumes the position in which it is in readiness to engage the end 40 of the hour print lever 38 on the downward movement of that. lever after the printing operation has been performed, so that the'lever 38 will assume a position corresponding to: the position of the minute print lever 38 shown in Fig. 4. 5 Since the shaft 9 makes one-complete rcvolutiion each hour, the rod 116 will engage and move the rod 119 once each hour, thereby causing the movement of print lever 38 to the pick-up position once each hour.

The recording device is provided with a cover 123 which is hinged to the rear of the base plate 1 at 124. At the front, the cover is provided with afinger hook 125 by means of which the cover may be lifted. Mounted upon: the base plate 1 just inside the cover are the springs 128 and 127, which are adapted to-bemoved by the button 126 fastened to the inside of the cover 123, when the cover is lifted from its normal position and when it isreturned to its normal position, to completethe circuit for a printing relay 129.

The printing relay 129,, which has an armature 130, is secured to the vertical mounting plate 4 at the right side of the recording device as may be seen in Fig. 1'. The armature 130 is fulcrumed near itscenter in a known manner so that when the portion of the armature which is influenced by the relay 129 when energized, moves downward,

' it niovesthe portion on the oppositeside of the fulcrum upward. This upward movement is utilized to perform a separate print ing, operation, the armature lifting a separarate printing lever, which has not been shown in the drawings since printing levers operated directly by electromagnets are well known, in order that each opening and closing of the cover may be recorded instantly.

If the magnet 129 were utilized to movea printing lever, similar to lever 38, to the pick-up position, a dishonest watchman, after opening the cover, could restore the printing lever 38 before the lifting motion of member 53 has commenced. the dishonest watchman could trip the printing lever of any one of the desired stations without having made a visit to that station. utilizing the magnet 129 to perform an instantaneous operation when the magnet is energized, this possible trouble has been overcome.

A brief summary of the complete operation of the recording device will now be given.

Motor start relay 24 once each minute rcceives a short impulse from the master'clock' of the watchmans service system. This impulse is of sufficient duration to-allow magnet 24 to energize sufficiently to close the motor start circuit at springs 35 and to mechanically lock itself in its operated position, as has been explained. Motor 17 operates when itscircuit is closed and thereby rotates the shaft 14. Cam 16 on shaft 14 and the weighted member 32 provide means for releasing the magnet 24 after shaft 14 has made one complete revolution, to thereby open the circuit of motor 17 t-o-stop the motor. The first half of the rotation of shaft 14 raises the lifting member 53 to pick-up all printing levers 38, which have been moved to the pickup position since the last operation of member he last half of the rotation of shaft 14 moves the pawl 13 to rotate the ratchet 12 and the shaft 9 a distance of the space of one tooth. This last half motion alsoperforms the tape winding operation as has been explained in detail. As the shaft 9 rotates, it rotates the roller 91 by lneansof the gear train comprising gears 96 to 101, inclusive, to unroll av portion of the recording paper from the spool 89. From this brief summary of the operation of the device it is to be noted that the prii'iting operation is performed before the shaft 9 carrying the minute wheels 10 is retated and consequently before the record sheet is unwound from the supply spool, and also before the tape winding operation is performed. In this way mutilation of any of the matter printed on the record sheet is prevented.

In watchmens service systems of the type in which secondary recorders, such as that of my invention, are used there is a certain route In this way responding to that station.

which the Watchman must travel and certain stations on the route which he must visit in order to signal the central station to cause a record of his visit to those stat-ions to be made. At each of these stations there is provided a circuit closing device of any suitable type, which when operated closes the circuit for the magnet 44 of the recording device cor- Each of the magnets 44 energizes when its circuit is so closed to allow the associated printing lever 38 to move the pick-up position, in which position it will print a record of the time of thatoperation, or the time of visitation to the corresponding station, upon the record sheet the next time the lifting member 53 is moved upward. From this it can be seen that the number of magnets 44 and the associated printing levers 38 to be supplied in the recording device depend upon the number of stations included in the route of the watchman.

By providing a recording device capable of being equipped for any number of stations, in the present instance the large number of sixty, I have constructed a device which can be used for a number of watchmen as it is unlikely that one watchman. will have more than ten or twelve stations on his route.

By providing a recording device constructed in the manner described, I have provided one which is very flexible in enabling the frequent changing of watchmens routes without rearranging any of the equipment in the recorder, it being only necessary to change the connections to the magnets 44 when it is advisable to group together on the record sheet, the recordings of all stations on each route.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that I haie constructed a printing recording device or secondary clock, which is positive in its operation and which overcomes the difficull ties which have been encountered by the use of a recording device of the prick-punching type previously mentioned.

Having thus described my invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a recording device, a periodically operated electric motor, a type wheel, a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to a pick-up position, an inked tape and a record sheet between said lever and said type Wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, means for operating said holding means to allow said lever to move to said pick-up position, and means operated by said motor for thereafter operatin g said lever to press said tape and record sheet against said type wheel to cause a record to be printed on said sheet.

2. In a recording device, a type wheel, a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to a pick-up position, an inked tape and a record sheet between said lever and said wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, means for operating said holding means to allow said lever to move to said pick-up position, and means for operating said lever when it is in said pickup position to press said tape and said sheet against said type wheel to cause a rec ord to be printed on said sheet.

3. In a recording device, a type wheel, a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to an operating position, an inked tape and a record sheet between said lever and said Wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, means for operating said holding means to'allow said lever to move to the operating position, and means for operating said lever when in said operating position to press said tape and said sheet against said wheel and for thereafter restoring said lever to its normal position.

4. In a recording device, a movable type wheel having a series of characters on its periphery, one of said characters being in a printing position, a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to an operating position, an inked tape and a record sheet between said lever and said wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, means for operating said holding means to allow said lever to move to the operating position, and means for operating said lever when in said operating position to press the tape and the record sheet against said wheel to cause the character in the printing position to be printed on said sheet, said last means thereafter moving said type wheel to place another of said characters in the printing position.

5. In a recording device, an electric motor, a movable type wheel having a series of characters on its periphery, one of said characters being in a printing position, a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to an operating position, an inked tape and record sheet between said lever and said wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, means for operating said holding means to allow said lever to move to the operating position, means operated by said motor for operating said lever when in the operating position to press said tape and said sheet against said wheel to cause the character in the printing position to be recorded on said sheet, and means simultaneously operated by said motor for moving said wheel after said recording takes place to place another character in said printing position.

6. In a recording device, an electric motor, a movable type wheel having a series of characters on its periphery, one of said characters being in a printing position, a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to an operating position, an inked tape and a record sheet between said lever and said wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, electromagnetic means for operating said holding 1621118 to allow said lever to move to the operating position, means operated by said motor for operating said lever when in the operating position to press said tape and said sheet against said Wheel to cause the character in the printing position to be recorded on said sheet and for thereafter returning said lever to its normal position, and means simultaneously operated by said motor for moving said wheel while said lever is being returned to normal to place another of said characters in the printing position.

7 In a recording device, an electric motor having an operating circuit, electro-magnetic means for closing said circuit to operate said motor, mechanical means operated by said electro-magnetic means for maintaining said circuit closed, a type wheel having a series of characters on its periphery, one of said characters being in a printing position, a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to an operating position, an inked tape and a record sheet between said lever and said wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, electro-magnetic means for operating said holding means to allow said lever to move to the operating position, means operated by said motor for operating said lever when in said operating position to press said tape and said sheet against said Wheel to cause the character in the printing position to be recorded on said sheet and for then returning said lever to its normal position.

8. In a recording device, an electric motor having an operating circuit, electro-magnetic means for closing said circuit to operate said motor, mechanical means operated by said electro-magnetic means for maintaining said circuit closed, a type wheel having a series of characters on its periphery, one of said characters being in a printing position. a printing lever having a normal position and adapted to move to an operating position, an inked tape and a record sheet between said lever and said wheel, means for holding said lever in its normal position, electro-magnetic means for operating said holding means to allow said lever to move to the operating position, means operated by said motor for operating said lever when in said operating position to press said tape and said sheet against said wheel to cause the character in the printing position to be recorded on said sheet and for then returning said lever to its normal position, and means operated by said motor for then releasing said mechanical means to open said circuit to stop said motor.

5?. In a'rec'ording device, a type wheel, "a 'prmtm'gbar' adapted to be moved from'a normal position to 'ajprintin'g position, an'electric motor, and means reciprocally operated by said motor for operating said bar'while in the printing position topress a recordsheet against said type wheel, thereafter returning 'thebar to its normal position.

-10. In a recording device,a type wheel having 'a series of characters thereon, one of which isin a printing position, =a1printing bar adapted to be moved froma normal position to an op'erating'position, an-electric motor, andmeans operated by said motor for to an operating position, an electric motor,

means reciprocally operated by said motor for operating said bar while in its operating position to press a record sheet agalnst said type wheel to record the character in the printing position on the sheet and thereafter return said bar to its normal position, and means operated by said other means for moving said type wheel after the printing operation to place the next character of the series in the printing position.

12. In a recording device, a type Wheel, a plurality of printing bars adapted to be moved individually from a normal position to a pick-up position, an electric motor, and pick-up means common to all of said bars operated by said motor to pick up all bars in the pick-up position to press a record sheet against said type wheel.

13. In a recording device, a type wheel having a plurality of series of characters on its periphery, one character of each series being in a printing position, a plurality of printing bars, one for each series ofcharacters,adapted to be moved individually from a normal position to a pick-up position, an electric motor, and pick-up means common to all of said bars operated by said motor to pick up all bars in the pick-up position, to press a record sheet against said type wheel to record on the sheet those characters of the series associated with the picked-up bars and thereafter to move said type wheel to place the neXt character in each series in the printing position.

14. In a recording device, a type wheel, a plurality of printing bars adapted to be individually moved from a normal position to a pickup position, an electric motor, and reciprocating means common to all of said bars and operated by said motor to pick up all bars in the pickup position to press a record sheet against said type wheel on the first half motion and to return those bars to their normal positions on the reciprocal motion.

15. In a recording device, a type wheel, a plurality of printing bars adapted to be individually moved from a normal position to a printing position, a periodically operating electric motor, and common operatin means for said bars operated periodically y said motor to operate those bars in the printing position at each periodic operation to press a record sheet against said type wheel.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of December, A. D.

HANS SENGEBUSCH. 

